Blog description:Imam Abu Ja`far al-Tahawi (239-321) can be said to represent the creed of both Ash`aris and Maturidis, especially the latter, as he was also following the Hanafi madhhab. We have therefore chosen to include the entire translated text of his Statement of Islamic Doctrine commonly known as the `aqida tahawiyya. This text, representative of the viewpoint of Ahl al-Sunna wa al-Jama`a, has long been the most widely acclaimed, and indeed indispensable, reference work on Muslim beliefs, of which the text below is a complete English translation.

Glorifying Allah gives you real life!
Or: The Whole Universe is an Orchestra of Divine Glorification!
Destur, ya Sayyidi, ya Sultanu-l Awliya, Meded, ya Rijalallah!
Allah Allah, Subhan Allah!
Subhan Allah, Sultan Allah!
Allah ya Daim! ca. 2o x
Allah ya Subhan! ca. 1o x
Allah ya Sultan! ca. 1o x
Allah ya Jalil! ca. 1o x
Allah Dhu-l Jalal! ca. 1ox
Hasbi Allahu wa ni?mal Wakil,
La haula wa la quwatta illa bi-llahi-l ?Aliyi-l ?Azim!
Audhu bi-llahi mina shaitani rajim,
Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim,
La haula wa la quwatta illa bi-llahi-l ?Aliyi-l ?Azim!
Ya ?Azimu, ya Allah! ca. 13 x
Ya Karimu, ya Allah! ca. 8 x
Ya ?Azizu, ya Allah! ca. 12 x
Ya Subhanu, ya Allah! ca. 8x
Ya Sultanu, ya Allah! ca. 8 x
Hasbi Allahu wa ni?mal Wakil,
La haula wa la quwatta illa bi-llahi-l ?Aliyu-l ?Azim!
Meded, ya Sultanu-l Awliya!
Nothing can be (more) sweet for our souls (than) to make dhikr! angels - their lives real life - their lives is Tesbih, to say: ?Subhan Allah, Sultan Allah!?
Countless kinds of Tesbih may be; it is countless. Everything (is) glorifying Allah, everything! Everything - Meded, ya Sultanu-l Awliya - everything it has a private structure, everything it has a personality, so that we can?t find through creation, through universe, through universes, to be on same personality. You may say atoms; for example hydrogen, it is an element. It is different from oxygen. Do you think that every atom from hydrogen (is) same? If they are going to be same, they must join to each other, but every atom keeping its personality, never getting to be two atoms coming together, no. Every atom keeping its personality. (It is) special, its personality! As you are not going to be similar for your son, different Therefore man billions of mankind they are all separated and everyone has a personality special. You are special, you have a specialty that making you different from second one, from third one, from others.
Also from atoms, each atom it has a private personality, so that not coming to mix with another atom of hydrogen. If going to be joined with another hydrogen, going to be one nuclear and around going to be two electrons, it is another being, another creation. Therefore each one keeping its personality. If coming together, never going to be a hydrogen atom.
And also, O people, each atom it has a name, private name, that just given, granted to that atom, from its Lord, from its Creator. And also given a kind, a different kind of glorifying that that one?s glorifying is not similar for second one. Each one it has different glorifying, so that everyone glorifying and that glorifying you can?t count them.
You may look an orchestra - may be 20 kinds of instruments: Flutes, even piano, how many!? each one glorifying its Lord in another kind of glorifying. We are knowing nothing! We are saying: ?Subhan Allah, Sultan Allah?!? This is glorifying. But same time everything that we have, they are making a kind of orchestra and their glorifying coming in such a way (that) if you can hear, you can fall down!
Glorifying Allah Almighty that is that Allah Almighty granted to His creatures: to make glorifying their Lord and whole universe is such a perfect glorifying orchestra! Allah Allah? Allah Allah?! Yes, Allah Almighty, let Him to grant ourselves with His endless Blessings to hear, to hear (the) glorifying of everything!
(The) most beautiful glorifying (is) coming from water! Waters? glorifying (is) in such a majestic (way) that (it is) giving life to dead ones, making it to open, to come in life! Water (is) bringing everything from death to life! Without water, nothing (is) coming into life; therefore the secret, sirr, (the) secret of Allah Almighty that He granted only (to) water, is majestic, because that (is) bringing life, bringing life for dead ones. Allah Allah!? ??wa ja?alna mina-l mai kulli shayin hayy?!? Everything, so that (for) every creation (there) must be a master power from water to come into existence, to be alive. Water is (all the) same. ?Do you know how many kinds of water?? ?Yes, Sir, we know: spring water, rain water, ocean water?? so many! ?Tap water, (?) water??
That is that you know it! Mina-l ma- Alif, Lam, Mim Alif? you can?t count the kinds of water! ?Wa ja?alna mina l-ma - alif lam - kulla shayin hayy??? whole things, from being nothing, bringing to be something. That is, to make everything alive, the power, (the) secret power, that Allah Almighty (has) granted to water. So many kinds of water, but you know only rain water, rivers water, well water, ocean water? It is same, but (there are) so many kinds of water that (are) making, bringing life to everything. They were nothing and (then they are) coming to be something!
Therefore, Prophets traditional knowledge that (is) reaching to awliya and sahaba from Rasulullah ? sallaLlahu akayhi wa sallam, that they were reaching to (such) a level (that) they were hearing (the) ?tasbihu l-miyah?; they were hearing (the) glorifying of waters! (When that happens) then that person (is) just stepping to a stage, to a level, that his physical being can?t carry to be there; (there is) appearing another personality. From that ?ma?, from that water; that water different water, (is) bringing people from (a) level, (the) lowest, to (the) highest, and their glorifying (is) going to be much more, much more, much more, much more - without stopping! Therefore - angels (are) glorifying and they are living!
O people, if you are asking real life, happy life, peaceful life, you must continue to make Tesbih, to glorify your Lord Almighty Allah! Then you are reaching to a level (that) you are not in need to eat or to drink, because that levels? eating and drinking (is) just going (to be) different. And that person (is) never going to be ill; no need to take anything for his cure, water (is) enough!
Therefore people (are) bringing (water to me and say): ?O Sheikh, blow (on) this water!? That is another sirr, another secret power. People may say: ?What is doing Sheikh? Blowing to water and giving people?? I am saying: ?You are on the level of donkeys, you are not understanding such a things, don?t ask! You ask from straw and green fields; go there, it is for you! Don?t say: ?We are not understanding? , it is not your level! You can?t understand!?
Therefore, O people, we are doing Tesbih, glorifying of Allah Almighty; that gives you real life, at least you can smell (the) higher levels (re)freshment and pretties (?) and endless possibilities (are) opening to you through that level! That level. Keep on glorifying!
Therefore we are making Tesbih after every praying. If you can do that glorifying, if you can continue to make Tesbih, glorifying, then you are reaching a level (that) you are not in need to drink or to eat from the level of animals. Now we are drinking and eating from the level of animals, but there is up, and another up, and another up, (which is) giving you much more pleasure, much more love, much more peace, much more pleasement, much more wisdoms, much more power, much more (divine) Beauty Oceans!
They are saying (for) Aphrodite from Paphos (that she was) coming out from sea that they are saying it is the timthal, symbol, of (divine) Beauty? On that level, when you are reaching the Oceans of Beauty, ohhh? Sheikh X. your mind (is) running away, leaving you! Tesbih, reaching to that ocean, carrying people to that?
Prophets (are) calling people to that unknown Beauty Oceans, pleasure ocean, pleasement ocean, peace oceans, wisdom oceans, hikmet, ulum, knowledge oceans, but people (are) insisting. They are asking: ?No, we are asking only here, that we are looking and seeing??
O people, therefore, try to make much more (Tesbih), to say: ?Subhan Allah, Subhan Allah??After prayings we are saying 33 times. We are saying in our Tariqa at least 100 times saying: ?Subhan Allah? ? Every Tesbih (is) taking you up from (the) animals level to (the) real level of mankind that they are (the) caliphs, deputies of Allah Almighty. Whom they are living on this level of animals, they are not going to be deputies, no! ??Inna ja?alnaka khalifata, ya Dawud, fi-l ard?? finishing every kind of your demands, wishings. When you are finishing, then you are reaching to be as Dawud ? alayhi salam, David, (that) Allah Almighty (was) addressing to him: ?We are making you now, when you are leaving every kind of your wishings that belongs to your physical being, when you are leaving it and glorifying your Lord, we are making you khalifa fi-l ard...?
Which ard, which dunya? Special! Special; it is special, for you only, no partner! You are reaching to a universe that it is only for you, no partner!
O people, we are knowing nothing, Allah knows everything!
Therefore, the most distinguished Naqshbandi Order (is) making people and carrying them from their animal being to angels? being levels. When you are reaching to that level that only angels (are) there- no animals there- you can find your real being there, that just (is) put on your head (the) crown of being a servant to Allah Almighty; (it is) granted to you and also a special, blessed dressing that it is the sign of glorifying of Allah Almighty. You just dressed that level.
O people, every kind of our praying that Allah Almighty ordered to His most beloved servant to make, (is) to take you from the level of animals to Malakut, (to) Heavenly Beings? level.
May Allah forgive us and grant us - Huuu! - from (the) secret knowledge and (the) secret powers of glorifying! He makes us to run after it and to reach to the levels of angels that it is glorified worlds!
May Allah forgive us and lead us, send us someones (that are) leading mankind to that levels. If not, we are all on the level of animals!
May Allah forgive me and bless you! For the honour of the most honoured Prophet and Servant in His Divinely Presence, Sayyidina Muhammad ? sallaLlahu alayhi wa sallam, Fatiha!

Assalamu Alaikum
Dear Brothers and Sisters
One Question which has different answers but which answer is correct.
Are we Muslims first and then Human Beings, or Human Beings and then Muslim?
Which one?
Some may think this is a stupid question but it is not.
this question let us realize the true us!
So are you a muslim and then a human being or a Human being and then a Muslim.
common guys think.

The 15th night of Shabaan is a very blessed night. According to the Hadith Shareef, the name of this Mubarak night is "Nisf Shabaan" which means 15th night of Shabaan. The reason for this special night to attain its name of Laylatul Baraa'ah, meaning the Night of Salvation, Seeking Freedom from Azaab and Calamity, is that in this night the Barkaat and acceptance of repentance may be accomplished. Laylatul Baraa'ah in Persian, as well as in Urdu, is called Shabbe Baraat. It is the night of seeking pardon and repenting to Almighty Allah, remembering our past sins and sincerely settling the mind that one will never commits sins in the future. All the deeds that are against Shari'ah must be totally avoided so that our Du'a and Istighfaar, hopefully, will be accepted. Muslims should check themselves and A'la Hazrat, Imam Ahmed Raza Bareilvi (radi Allahu anhu) has given a beautiful advise in this regard. This great Imam said: "Verily the auspicious night of Shabbe Baraa'a is drawing near when the deeds of the slave will be presented to the Almighty Allah. I humbly supplicate in the Darbar-e-Aqdas of the Almighty Allah that through the Wasila-e-Uzma of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) He forgives the sins and transgressions of all Muslims. Aameen. "On this occasion, it should be the duty of all Sunni Muslims to forgive one another and to make sure that whatever debts owed to one another is settled. The importance of Huqooq-ul-Ibaad cannot be over-emphasised as this is among the pre-requisites for proper Ibaadat. I pray that all Muslims humbly remember this night and try as much as possible to perform Ibaadat and other pious deeds so that their Record of Deeds be presented in all dignity. "Finally, I pray that the Almighty Allah assists you and I and the Muslim Ummah wherever you may be. Muslims should be aware of sincerity and honesty in all their deeds. May Almighty Allah forgive all of us. Aameen." Faqeer Ahmed Raza Qaaderi (may Allah forgive him) HOW TO WELCOME THIS NIGHT On this auspicious night, you should perform fresh Ghusal and Wudhu and perform the two Rakaat of Tahhiyatul Wudhu. In every Rakaat, after the Suratul Fatiha, you should read Ayatul Kursi once and Surah Ahad three times. Also perform eight Rakaats of Salaah with four Salaams. In each Rakaat after the Surah Fatiha, you should read the Ayatul Kursi (once) and Surah Ahad fifty times. WHAT TO RECITE IMMEDIATELY AFTER SUNSET After sunset, you should recite "La Hawla walaa Quwwata illa Billahil-aliyil Azeem" forty times with three times Durood Shareef before and after. It is mentioned that by reciting this, Almighty Allah will forgive forty years of your sins and forty Hoors will await to serve you in Jannatul Firdous. COUNTLESS MERCIES Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has stated: "Verily! Almighty Allah directs His Special Grace on the world on this Night. He forgives my Ummah more than the number of wool that is found on the sheep of the Bani Kalb". We should remember that in those days the Bani Kalb possessed the most number of sheep that any other tribe. How great is the Mercy of Almighty Allah on this night that He forgives millions of Muslims. We also realise from this that these numbers can only pertain to the Ahle Sunnah Wa Jamaah collectively, for the righteous followers of the Hanafi, Shaafi'i, Maaliki and Hambali indeed number millions of Muslims. THE VISITORS OF THIS NIGHT It is narrated that the departed souls (Arwaah) of the Muslims visit the houses of their friends and relatives on this night and proclaim: "O people of the house! You stay in our houses and enjoy the wealth that we have left behind. You use our children and take work from them, please perform our Esaale Sawaab. Verily our deeds have become complete, while your record of deeds is still spread". If the people of the house perform the Esaale Sawaab and Khatam Shareef on this night, then the Arwaah depart will the Sawaab extremely happy and overjoyed all the time making Du'a for the people. VISIT TO THE CEMETERY Hazrat Ayesha Siddiqa (radi Allahu anha) reports: "One night, which was the 15th of Shabaan, I did not find the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) in the house so I went in search of him. After a long search, I found him in Baqiah (the cemetery of Madinah) offering Du'a for the deceased and praying for their forgiveness". (Baihaqi) A special point must be made to visit the cemetery during this night and pray for the deceased buried therein, as the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) is been reported as having visited the cemetery on this night and spending a long time therein, lamenting, reading and praying for the deceased. TO KEEP FAST According to the Hadith Shareef which is narrated by Ibne Habaan (radi Allahu anhu) that Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: "When the night of 15th Shabaan arrives spend the night awake and keep fast the next day". Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) reports that the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said often in his Khutba (sermon): "O people! Lighten and cleanse your bodies by way of fasting during Shabaan, so that it shall be easy and helpful to you for the fast during Ramadaan. Whoso fasts for three days during Shabaan, all his past sins are wiped off". (Baihaqi) Fasting is also recommended on the 13th, 14th and 15th of Shabaan. HOW TO SPEND THE NIGHT On this night, perform Nawaafil, recite the Quran Shareef, recite abundant Durood Shareef, Istighfaar and Kalima Tayyibah. It is also mentioned that if one reads Surah Dukhaan seven times on this night, Almighty Allah will reward you with 70 worldly needs and 70 deeds for the Hereafter. DO NOT BE AMONGST THOSE DEPRIVED OF MERCY Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: "Almighty Allah forgives all Muslims on this night, besides the fortune tellers, the magicians, the alcoholics, those who disrespect their parents and those who take part and encourage adultery". In another narration, the following people have also been mentioned: 1. One who deals in usury (Riba), 2. One who wears his trousers below his ankle with pride and arrogance (In Arabia, people displayed their wealth and boasted in this manner), 3. One who creates disunity among two Muslims, 4. The person who unjustly takes away the right and property of another Muslim and has not yet rectified himself. All these persons are not shown Mercy on this auspicious Night. A HUMBLE APPEAL TO SEEK PARDON AND ASK ALLAH'S FORGIVENESS Dear Muslim brothers, the Bountiful Allah in His Infinite Mercy has provided us with such an auspicious night so that we may take advantage of it and repent for our sins, and thus obtain His Grace and Favour. It is for us to take full advantage of it. During this night, offer special prayers and repent sincerely for our past sins and ask for His Forgiveness. Also on this night the Doors of Mercy and Forgiveness are opened wide, and those who sincerely grieve over and repent for their past sins and seek forgiveness from Allah are pardoned and forgiven by the Grace of Allah the Merciful. Each Tasbih or Du'a should begin and terminate with the recital of Durood Shareef and one who wishes for the acceptance of his Du'as should use the Wasila of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). Hazrat Ghousul Azam, Sheikh Abdul Qaadir Jilani (radi Allahu anhu) has mentioned in his famous "Gunyat-ut Taalibeen" that the month of Shabaan according to some narrations is related to Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). So, it is our duty, as the Ummat of Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) to love and respect this month more than any other month (besides Ramadaan). We should also offer abundantly salutations (Salaat-o-Salaam) upon the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). While we are praying and asking for ourselves and family, we should also remember in our Du'as the Muslim Ummah facing calamities in many parts of the world, that may Allah Ta'ala grant them the strength and Istiqaamat (steadfastness) in Deen. Those weak Muslims who are under pressure from the West and modernisation, may Allah Ta'ala guide them and show them the right path so that they be in touch with their glorious past. Aameen. May Almighty Allah guide us on the path of the Ambiya and the Awliya. Aameen. NAFIL SALAAH TO BE READ ON SHABBE BARAAT BASHARAT OF JANNAT: Sayyiduna Rasulullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) is reported to have said that Allah Ta'ala instructs and assigns 100 angels to the person who performs 100 Nafil Salaahs on this auspicious night - 30 of which will bring the good news of Jannat, 30 angels to protect one from the Azaab (Punishment) of Dozakh (Hell), 30 to remove all misfortunes and miseries of this world and 10 angels to protect one from Shaitaan. THE GUARDING OF IMAAN: After performing Maghrib Salaah, read 2 rakaahs of Nafil. In the first rakaah, after Surah Fatiha, recite Surah Ikhlaas 3 times and Surah Falaq once. In the second rakaah, after Surah Fatiha, recite Surah Ikhlaas 3 times and Surah Naas once. After Salaam, make Du'a and ask Allah to protect your Imaan. BARAKAH IN RIZQ: After Maghrib Salaah, read 2 rakaahs of Nafil. Thereafter, read Surah Yasin once, Surah Ikhlaas 21 times and Du'a Nisf Shabaan once. Then, make Du'a for Barakah in Rozi and ask Allah not to make you dependent on anyone. LONG LIFE FILLED WITH PIETY: After Maghrib Salaah, read 2 rakaahs of Nafil. Read Surah Yasin once. Then read Du'a Nisf Shabaan once. Thereafter, make Du'a for long life filled with piety and righteousness. REWARD FOR TEN THOUSAND GOOD DEEDS: Anyone who performs 20 rakaahs of Nafil after Maghrib in such a way that after Surah Fatiha, recites Surah Ikhlaas 10 times in every rakaah, will be rewarded abundantly by Allah Ta'ala, and ten thousand good deeds will be recorded in his Amal Namaa (Book of Deeds). DEATH WITH COMPLETE FAITH/IMAAN: Anyone who performs 2 rakaahs of Nafil on the last Friday of Shaba

One day, the master of ascetics, Ibrahim ibn Adham, was by the sea-shore on a snowy day. Heavy, dark clouds were filling the sky and he was shivering with cold. He made his prayers on a plank of wood and sat in meditation all night. In the early morning he took a shower and made a small hut out of the wood to shelter him from the weather. He resumed his meditation and thanked God for his life. At that moment, God said to the Angel of Death: "My servant Ibrahim's fervent love for Me has become unbearable upon him, therefore go down and take his soul and let him enter My paradise." The Angel of Death thought that Ibrahim ibn Adham would be like others, unwilling to give up his soul and putting up resistance. He veiled himself with seven veils so that he would not be recognized, and he appeared to Ibrahim as a very old man. He said to him: "O my brother! can you share your shelter with me?" Ibrahim replied: "It is not necessary to share it, I will give it to you, because I was expecting you since last night to come and take me to my Lord." The angel of death was very surprised and asked him: "How did you recognize me despite my veils?" Ibrahim replied: "When God ordered you to take my soul, I was present there with you. Take me and let me be in the presence of my Beloved."

13:13: "The thunder hymneth His praise and so do the angels for awe of Him. He launcheth the thunder-bolts and smiteth with them whom He will while they dispute in doubt concerning God, and He is mighty in wrath."
God has created the Archangel Michael and put him in charge of nature, rain, snow, thunder, lightning, wind, and clouds. God has appointed a complete creation of angels to assist him and placed them under his command. These angels are countless and no-one other than God knows their number. God has given Michael power to see the entire span of the created universes at once, with no interference of other universes. He knows at all times where he has to send rain, wind, snow, and clouds without effort on his part. The angels who assist him range in size from the hugest size imaginable to man to that of the smallest species living on this earth. They fill the entire atmosphere of every star and planet in every universe. Their praise to God can be heard by the other angels, by prophets, by saints, and by young children.
Michael is the angel of mercy which is another name for rain in Arabic. He is created from the light of God's attribute al-Rahman, "the Merciful." He was never seen smiling after hell was created. He was created before Gabriel.
Once upon a time, Gabriel and Michael visited the Prophet Muhammad, Peace be upon him. The latter had a toothstick in hand which he immediately handed to Gabriel, the angel who constantly brought him Revelation. Gabriel said: "O Muhammad! give it to the elder angel." The Prophet gave it to Michael.
The Prophet said: "God gave me two celestial assistants to help me deliver my Message: Gabriel and Michael." He used always to send for Gabriel and Michael concerning matters important to human beings.
The caller to prayer (muezzin) in the heavens is Gabriel and the prayer-leader (imam) is Michael. God created a house for Himself in Paradise (al-Bayt al-Ma`mur) to which the angels make pilgrimage every day five times. There, five prayer-services are held and every service is heralded by Gabriel and led by Michael. The angels all come with their lights and ornaments, their jewels and fragrances, chanting and praising God with their heavenly music. Some people on earth, especially children, are able to hear their voices. This sound gives them indescribable pleasure. Every angel chants and praises in a different language without clash or disharmony. All are pleading to God for mercy for human beings and asking Him to elevate the state of people so that they can hear and see these daily ceremonies. To reward the angels for their praise, for the sincerity of their intercession, and to show them the great extent of His mercy, God at every moment showers His mercy on human beings.
Until the time of the Prophet Noah the House of God existed on the face of the earth. People came from all over the world to walk ceremoniously around it the way pilgrims walk around the Ka`ba in Mecca today. When God set His face on sending the flood to drown the entire world, He ordered His angels to transport the Heavenly House up into the fourth heaven. It stands there until now with the angels walking continually around in solemn state. It was transformed into a Palace of Paradise. Its only remnant on earth is the Black Stone in the Holy Kaaba: it used to be white like the Palace it came from but has been clouded over blackened by the sins of mankind. It has been left on earth for the sake of remembrance. All who kiss it, it is as if they are kissing the right hand of God on earth.

42:5: "Almost might the heavens above be rent asunder while the angels hymn the praise of their Lord and ask forgiveness for those on the earth. Lo! God is the Forgiver, the Merciful."
53:26: "And how many angels are in the heavens whose intercession availeth not save after God giveth leave to whom He chooseth and accepteth!"
83:20-21: "A written record, attested by those who are brought near unto their Lord."
There are four angels and their innumerable retinues in charge of this world. The first is Gabriel and his armies. He is in charge of soldier-angels and revelation. Gabriel insures victory and is responsible for the extinction of nations: human, animal, vegetal, or others, when God wills it. The second is Michael and his armies, in charge of rain and vegetation. He conveys sustenance to nurture mankind. The third is `Azra'il the angel of death and his assistants. They are in charge of seizing the souls of those who die. The fourth is Israfil and his assistants, in charge of the Hour of the Day of Judgment. When the earth has passed away God will order these angels to bring forth their scrolls and they will bring them. Then God will order them to open the Book of Life. They will then find that their scrolls are the same as it.

3:42: "And when the angels said: O Mary! Lo! God hath chosen thee and made thee pure, and hath preferred thee above all the women of creation."
The "Virgin Angels" were created from the Word of God, carrying His Light and appearing to the Virgin of virgins, Mary. They informed her that she had been chosen to carry a great message for humanity. They were her guardian angels. They were wearing crowns of pearls and rubies on their head. The Virgin Mary's eyes were drawn to these pearls and emeralds without her will. This enabled her to see that this world, with all its magnitude, disappeared into one of these jewels as a ring disappears in an ocean. This vision elevated her to a state where she reached a knowledge which dwarfed all the knowledges of this world, enabling her to carry in her womb the secret of Jesus, which is a Word from God. God has prepared and guarded Mary through these two messengers for her to carry the light which the Archangel Gabriel would bestow upon her at a later time. She was chosen among all the women of the world for her sincerity and piety and to carry a baby without the agency of a man. She was asking God from her first day in existence to be a virgin in body and a virgin in soul.

2:248: "And their Prophet said unto them: Lo! the token of his kingdom is that there shall come unto you the ark wherein is peace of reassurance from your Lord, and a remnant of that which the house of Moses and the house of Aaron left behind, the angels bearing it. Lo! herein shall be a token for you if in truth ye are believers."
This verse shows the miraculous power of angels and their superlative ability to act upon the physical realm. They carried the Ark of the Covenant in front of Saul's army and the relics which the family of Moses and Aaron left behind. Angels were carrying the Ark of the Covenant because it was very important for humanity. It contained one of the heavenly Books, the Torah, in its original form. When God ordered Moses to write the Torah, He said: "O Moses! you have to write it on tablets of gold." When Moses asked where he would find such a metal, God sent him the Archangel Gabriel and ninety-nine other angels. Each one represented an attribute of God and they taught Moses one hundred and twenty-four thousand words. With every word Moses was elevated to a higher level. At every level Moses saw light coming to him from the Divine Presence and dressing him, until he reached a state of purity similar to the transparency of crystal water. This caused every on-looker at Moses to see nothing but light. At that moment, Gabriel ordered the ninety-nine angels to adorn him with the attributes and powers that each was carrying. Moses wore a veil to cover the intense light which emanated from him and caused others to faint if they looked at him. Then Gabriel poured into Moses' heart the heavenly knowledge meant to be consigned in the tablets. He taught him the chemistry of gold. Moses in turn taught his sister one-third of this chemistry, Joshua another third, and Saul the last third. Then he wrote the Torah on the gold he manufactured. All the while the angels stood by him and taught him how to write and adorn that heavenly book. Then God created a four-winged angel and ordered him to keep company with Moses and be the guardian of the Ark.

Assalamu Alaikum
Intrested topic! hmmmmm!
hi we are all grown ups right?
we know right from wrong ok.
and having sex before marriage is certainly wrong. Our religion does not promote this, but yet we find ourselfs victims caused by our relationship with our partners! Y? jus 2 satisfy each other and our desires.some of us may try 2 fulfil our desires and then end up being hurt in the long run physically, sprituality,emotionally and 9 months later regrets. Please just stay away. Sex is SO much more special when you wait to share it with a person that you'e committed to for the rest of your life. I've had many friends that have had sex before marraige and regretted it, but I've never had one friend who waited until she/he was married and regretted waiting. It might seem like everybody's having sex, but they're not, are you? it will be much better if you wait until you can share it with one special person- your spouse!

Allah is the proper name of God, however, we know Him generally through His attributes. These attributes describe how Allah manifests Himself to us. God's attributes are innumerable since human intellect cannot possibly comprehend every aspect of the Supreme Being. A Hadith of the Holy Prophet (peace be on him) makes mention of Ninety Nine names of Allah commonly known as al- Asmaul Husna, the Most Names. In the Holy Quran we read: "And to Allah alone belong all perfect attributes. So call Him by these. And leave alone those who deviate from the right way with respect to His Attributes." (7:181).
"Allah - there is no God but He, the Living, the Self-Subsisting and All-Sustaining. Slumber seizes Him not, nor sleep. To Him belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. Who is he that will intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them; and they encompass nothing of His knowledge except what He pleases. His knowledge extends over the heavens and the earth; and the care of them burdens Him not;and He is the High, the Great." (2:256)
Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The similitude of His light is a lustrous niche, wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass is as it were a glittering star. It is lit from blessed tree - an olive - neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would well-nigh glow forth even though fire touched it not.Light upon light! Allah guides to His light whomsoever He will. And Allah sets forth parables to men, and Allah know all things full well.This light is now lit in houses with regard to which Allah has ordained that they be exalted and that His name be remembered in them, Therein is He glorified in the mornings and the evenings (24:36-37)
"He is Allah, and there is no God beside Him, the Knower of the unseen and the seen. He is Gracious, the Merciful.He is Allah, and there is no God beside Him, the Sovereign, the Holy One, the Source of Peace, the Bestower of Security, the Protector, the Mighty, the Subduer, the Exalted. Holy is Allah far above that which they associate with Him.He is Allah, the Creator, the Maker, the Fashioner. His are the most Beautiful Names. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorifies Him, and He is the Mighty the Wise.(59: 23-25)
Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: The Holy Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "Allah has ninety nine Names, one hundred less one; and who memorized them all by heart will enter Paradise." (Bukhari, The Book of Tauhid.

Imam al-Tahawi
Imam Abu Ja`far al-Tahawi (239-321) can be said to represent the creed of both Ash`aris and Maturidis, especially the latter, as he was also following the Hanafi madhhab. We have therefore chosen to include the entire translated text of his Statement of Islamic Doctrine commonly known as the `aqida tahawiyya. This text, representative of the viewpoint of Ahl al-Sunna wa al-Jama`a, has long been the most widely acclaimed, and indeed indispensable, reference work on Muslim beliefs, of which the text below is a complete English translation.
Imam Abu Ja`far Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Azdi, known as Imam Tahawi after his birthplace in Egypt, is among the most outstanding authorities of the Islamic world on hadith and jurisprudence (fiqh). He lived at a time when both the direct and indirect disciples of the Four Imams of law were teaching and practicing. This period was the greatest age of Hadith and fiqh studies, and Imam Tahawi studied with all the living authorities of the day. Al-Badr al-`Ayni said that when Ahmad died, Tahawi was 12; when Bukhari died, he was 27; when Muslim died, he was 32; when Ibn Majah died, he was 44; when Abu Dawud died, he was 46; when Tirmidhi died, he was fifty; when Nisa'i died, he was 74. Kawthari relates this and adds the consensus of scholars that Tahawi allied in himself completion in the two knowledges of hadith and fiqh, a consensus that included, among others, al-`Ayni and al-Dhahabi, with Ibn Taymiyya singling himself out in his opinion that Tahawi was not very knowledgeable in hadith. This is flatly contradicted by Ibn Kathir who says in his notice on Tahawi in al-Bidaya wa al-nihaya: "He is one of the trustworthy narrators of established reliability, and one of the massive memorizers of hadith." Kawthari calls Ibn Taymiyya's verdict "another one of his random speculations" and states: "No-one disregards Tahawi's knowledge of the defective hadith except someone whose own defects have no remedy, and may Allah protect us from such."
Tahawi began his studies with his maternal uncle Isma`il ibn Yahya al-Muzani, a leading disciple of Imam Shafi`i. However, Tahawi felt instinctively drawn to the corpus of Imam Abu Hanifa's works. Indeed, he had seen his uncle and teacher turning to the works of Hanafi scholars to resolve thorny issues of fiqh, drawing heavily on the writings of Abu Hanifa's two leading companions, Muhammad Ibn al-Hasan al-Shaybani and Abu Yusuf, who had codified Hanafi fiqh. This led him to devote his whole attention to studying the Hanafi works and he eventually joined the Hanafi school. He now stands out not only as a prominent follower of that Hanafi school but, in view of his vast erudition and remarkable powers of assimilation, as one of its leading scholars. His monumental scholarly works, such as Sharh ma`ani al-athar and Mushkil al-athar, are encyclopedic in scope and have long been regarded as indispensable for training students of fiqh. He was in fact a mujtahid across the board and was thoroughly familiar with the fiqh of all four schools, as stated by Ibn `Abd al-Barr and related by Kawthari, and as shown by Tahawi's own work on comparative law entitled Ikhtilaf al-fuqaha'.
Tahawi's "Doctrine" (al-`Aqida), though small in size, is a basic text for all times, listing what a Muslim must know and believe and inwardly comprehend. There is consensus among the Companions, the Successors and all the leading Islamic authorities such as the four Imams and their authoritative followers on the doctrines enumerated in this work, which are entirely derived from the undisputed primary sources of Religion, the Holy Qur'an and the confirmed Hadith. Being a text on Islamic doctrine, this work sums up the arguments set forth in those two sources to define sound belief, and likewise, the arguments advanced in refuting the views of sects that have deviated from the Sunna.
As regards the sects mentioned in this work, familiarity with Islamic history up to the time of Imam Tahawi would be quite helpful. More or less veiled references to sects such as the Mu`tazila, the Jahmiyya, the Karramiyya, the Qadariyya, and the Jabariyya are found in the work. It also contains allusions to other views considered unorthodox and deviant from the way of Ahl al-Sunna. There is an explicit reference in the work to the controversy on the creation of the Qu'ran in the times of al-Ma'mun and others.
While the permanent relevance of the statements of belief in the `Aqida are obvious, the historical weight and point of certain of these statements can be properly appreciated only if the work is used as a text for study under the guidance of some learned person able to elucidate its arguments fully, with reference to the intellectual and historical background of the sects refuted in the work. Since the present book is intended exactly as one such aid towards understanding the details of Islamic belief with clarity, it is hoped that the quotation of the entire text of Tahawi's "Doctrine," which we consider as the doctrine of Ahl al-Sunna wa al-Jama`a, will be of benefit to the reader. And may Allah grant us a true understanding of faith and count us among those described by the Prophet as the Saved Group.
TAHAWI'S
STATEMENT OF ISLAMIC DOCTRINE
(AL-`AQIDA AL-TAHAWIYYA)
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
Praise be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.
The great scholar Hujjat al-lslam Abu Ja'far al-Warraq al-Tahawi al-Misri, may Allah have mercy on him, said: This is a presentation of the beliefs of Ahl al-Sunna wa al-Jama`a, according to the school of the jurists of this religion, Abu Hanifa al-Nu`man ibn Thabit al-Kufi, Abu Yusuf Ya`qub ibn Ibrahim al-Ansari and Abu `Abdullah Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Shaybani, may Allah be pleased with them all, and what they believe regarding the fundamentals of the religion and their faith in the Lord of the worlds.
We say about Allah's unity, believing by Allah's help that:
1. Allah is One, without any partners.
2. There is nothing like Him.
3. There is nothing that can overwhelm Him.
4. There is no god other than Him.
5. He is the Eternal without a beginning and enduring without end.
6. He will never perish or come to an end.
7. Nothing happens except what He wills.
8. No imagination can conceive of Him and no understanding can comprehend Him.
9. He is different from any created being.
10. He is living and never dies and is eternally active and never sleeps.
11. He creates without His being in need to do so and provides for His creation without any effort.
12. He causes death with no fear and restores to life without difficulty.
13. He has always existed together with His attributes since before creation. Bringing creation into existence did not add anything to His attributes that was not already there. As He was, together with His attributes, in pre-eternity, so He will remain throughout endless time.
14. It was not only after the act of creation that He could be described as "the Creator" nor was it only by the act of origination that He could he described as "the Originator."
15. He was always the Lord even when there was nothing to be Lord of, and always the Creator even when there was no creation.
16. In the same way that He is the "Bringer to life of the dead," after He has brought them to life a first time, and deserves this name before bringing them to life, so too He deserves the name of "Creator" before He has created them. 17. This is because He has the power to do everything, everything is dependent on Him, everything is easy for Him, and He does not need anything. "There is nothing like Him and He is the Hearer, the Seer." (al-Shura 42:11) 18. He created creation with His knowledge. 19. He appointed destinies for those He created. 20. He allotted to them fixed life spans. 21. Nothing about them was hidden from Him before He created them, and He knew everything that they would do before He created them. 22. He ordered them to obey Him and forbade them to disobey Him. 23. Everything happens according to His degree and will, and His will is accomplished. The only will that people have is what He wills for them. What He wills for them occurs and what He does not will, does not occur. 24. He gives guidance to whomever He wills, and protects them, and keeps them safe from harm, out of His generosity; and He leads astray whomever He wills, and abases them, and afflicts them, out of His justice. 25. All of them are subject to His will either through His generosity or His justice. 26. He is Exalted beyond having opposites or equals. 27. No one can ward off His decree or delay His command or overpower His affairs. 28. We believe in all of this and are certain that everything comes from Him. 29. And we are certain that Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) is His chosen Servant and elect Prophet and His Messenger with whom He is well pleased, 30. And that he is the Seal of the Prophets and the Imam of the godfearing and the most honored of all the messengers and the Beloved of the Lord of all the worlds. 31. Every claim to prophethood after Him is falsehood and deceit. 32. He is the one who has been sent to all the jinn and all mankind with truth and guidance and with light and illumination. 33. The Qur'an is the word of Allah. It came from Him as speech without it being possible to say how. He sent it down on His Messenger as revelation. The believers accept it, as absolute truth. They are certain that it is, in truth, the word of Allah. It is not created as is the speech of human beings, and anyone who hears it and claims that it is human speech has become an unbeliever. Allah warns him and censures him and threatens him with Fire when He says, Exalted is He: "I will burn him in the Fire." (al-Muddaththir 74:26) When Allah threatens with the Fire those who say "This is just human speech" (74:25) we know for certain that it is the speech of the Creator of mankind and that it is totally unlike the speech of mankind. 34. Anyon

Imam Abu Ja`far al-Tahawi (239-321) can be said to represent the creed of both Ash`aris and Maturidis, especially the latter, as he was also following the Hanafi madhhab. I have therefore chosen to include the entire translated text of his Statement of Islamic Doctrine commonly known as the `aqida tahawiyya. This text, representative of the viewpoint of Ahl al-Sunna wa al-Jama`a, has long been the most widely acclaimed, and indeed indispensable, reference work on Muslim beliefs, of which the text below is a complete English translation.